Israeli Airstrike Kills Two Brothers in Shejaiya; Hamas Deterrent Force Identifies Them as Resistance Fighters

An Israeli airstrike in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City killed two Palestinian brothers, Fahmi and Saed Qaddoum, on March 28. Hamas's internal security arm, the 'Deterrent Force,' issued a statement identifying the pair as 'resistance fighters' who had been attacked by anti-Hamas clan militiamen shortly before the Israeli strike. The sequence suggests the IDF targeted the brothers during or immediately after an internal armed confrontation. The strike illustrates the complex security environment in Gaza under the ceasefire: inter-clan violence has intensified as Hamas attempts to reassert control over armed factions that gained influence during the war, while Israel continues targeted operations it presents as consistent with the ceasefire framework. The Shejaiya neighborhood was among the most heavily contested areas during the 2023–2024 ground offensive.